RAM substitute question?

[WizeOne]

My 2400 Dell Dimension calls for PC2700 DDR 333mhz ram. Will PC3200 DDR 400mhz work? I might be able to get some at a very good price.

The manual states a maximum of 1 gig (2 x 512) but others have stated that 2 x 1 gig will work. My question here is for the type and speed, not the qty.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: RAM substitute question?

Yes 3200 is fine.

From your other thread:

Be aware that you can buy pc3200 and it will work fine. Sometimes its harder to find the slower memory since they don't make it anymore and the faster is actually cheaper.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: RAM substitute question?

Yes 3200 is fine.

From your other thread:

Thanks Bruce. I remembered your comment. I just wasn't sure about the difference in mHz.

 

[ftl900]

Re: RAM substitute question?

Faster RAM will work with no noticeable difference. Just don't try to switch between DDR and DDR2- they look real close but won't fit.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: RAM substitute question?

Thanks Bruce. I remembered your comment. I just wasn't sure about the difference in mHz.

That's the max speed the part can work at. As I am sure you noticed the faster parts are cheaper. That's because there are more of them as they don't make the others anymore.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: RAM substitute question?

It will work.

If you have 2 sticks of ram in the computer. If one is 3200 and the other is 2700, the other ram will be slowed down to 2700. as for ddr and ddr2. Wont fit in the slot.. If you force it in, you'll crack the mainboard or memory stick..
Then you'll lose your memory.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: RAM substitute question?

If one is 3200 and the other is 2700, the other ram will be slowed down to 2700.

Its not a question of the memory slowing down. Its the motherboard that determines what the clocking rate to the memory is. If you have two 3200 sticks in there its still going to clock at the lower rate.

 

[gss036]

Re: RAM substitute question?

I have a DELL Dimension 3000. It cam w/512 RAM. When I went to upgrade the RAM, the DELL tech told me that my computer max was 1 GIG on the RAM, even though I had a 2nd slot. They said it might not work if I exceeded 1 GIG. So, I just did 1 gig and it works great.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: RAM substitute question?

I have a DELL Dimension 3000. It cam w/512 RAM. When I went to upgrade the RAM, the DELL tech told me that my computer max was 1 GIG on the RAM, even though I had a 2nd slot. They said it might not work if I exceeded 1 GIG. So, I just did 1 gig and it works great.

Well, I guess we are going to see. Conventional wisdom, as expressed on this forum, states that the one gig limit defined in Dells manual is not reality.

I have two one gig sticks of pc3200 coming and we will see if it works. I cannot think of a time when I have gotten incorrect computer advice on this forum.

Be sure, I will let ya'll know.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: RAM substitute question?

Well, I guess we are going to see. Conventional wisdom, as expressed on this forum, states that the one gig limit defined in Dells manual is not reality.

I have two one gig sticks of pc3200 coming and we will see if it works. I cannot think of a time when I have gotten incorrect computer advice on this forum.

Be sure, I will let ya'll know.

I haven't seen anyone tell you that if the max for your computer is 1 gig that you could put 2 gig in....unless i missed it.
It may work, but I'd bet that you wasted your $$ on the 2nd gig....

 

[WizeOne]

Re: RAM substitute question?

I haven't seen anyone tell you that if the max for your computer is 1 gig that you could put 2 gig in....unless i missed it.
It may work, but I'd bet that you wasted your $$ on the 2nd gig....

Actually, it was in my other thread about slow page loads and exits. BruceB posted a link from Dell on Technical Specs for the Dell Dimension 2400.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim2400/en/sm_en/specs.htm

In this link Dell plainly states that the 2400, using either the P4 or Celeron microprocessor uses a maximum of 2 gigs memory.

The information in this link does differ from the information that is in the manual that came with the computer.

Also a link BruceB posted from Crucial also shows that the 2400 can use 2 gig. Sounds like Dell changed the information after my manual was printed.

http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts4_dell2400.aspx?model=Dimension

 

[ezbtr]

Re: RAM substitute question?

www.crucial.com, download and run the memory checker

 

[WizeOne]

Re: RAM substitute question?

www.crucial.com, download and run the memory checker

Pretty slick ezbtr. The test did confirm the unit will take 2 gigs. Thanks!

 

[gss036]

Re: RAM substitute question?

I ran the memory checker and tells me that my system will run 2 GB, so much for the Dell sales person, probably in INDIA. I still have a blank slot, Crucial q&a says I can mix so I guess if I need a little more I can put one of the 256MB back in.
Price wise they are the same cost from either supplier.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: RAM substitute question?

I ran the memory checker and tells me that my system will 2 GB, so much for the Dell sales person, probably in INDIA. I still have a blank slot, Crucial q&a says I can mix so I guess if I need a little more I can put one of the 256MB back in.
Price wise they are the same cost from either supplier.

Yeah, you should be able to slap that 256 into the empty slot. Might as well as opposed to having it sitting around collecting dust.

The Dell guy was propably reading from the same manual as came with my 2400. It also stated 1 gig max.

I just found two 1 gig strips of PC2700 AND a 2.66 P4 CPU from a local guy on Craigslist. Paid him 30$ for the lot. They are all installed and working peachy!

 

[gss036]

Re: RAM substitute question?

I got bored, so installed a single 256MB RAM and checked my system, it recognized it right away and now show 1,280 MB of RAM. Ran the Crucial check again and it also found it and suggested I order a single 1GB and remove the 256MB RAM. The computer system showes I have 750MB available for use.
I was doing ok until Comcast started providing the Norton Security Suite as part of their package. I was told that NORTON was a RAM hog, I agree 100%.
SO, I guess everything is working like it suppose to.
Thank you everyone for all the good information.

 

[WizeOne]

Re: RAM substitute question?

I got bored,......

Easy to do here in Washington. This pervasive cloudiness is killing me but like clockwork, once the sun finally appeared this afternoon, I got my mojo on without even having to think about. Been out doin all those things in the yard that it was just to depressing to do in the clouds.

You can take the old SoCal guy out of the sun, but you can't take the need for sun out of this old SoCal guy!!

 

[gss036]

Re: RAM substitute question?

I can really see more speed now that I have had time play with my puter. I did get a little garden work done, about the only thing growing is weeds and grass. It is supposed to get warm tomorrow and the marine weather forecast is favorable, so I will probably go after the elusive salmon tomorrow. I was out on Friday and got a nice 12 1/2 pound Chinook.
I just got back from a week in Kauai, Hawaii celebrating a 46th anniversary. Had to mow the grass twice to keep from having a mess.

 

[dchris]

Re: RAM substitute question?

DDR and DDR2 are different technologies ? not compatible. DDR2 is almost twice as fast because data is transferred on the rising and falling clock edges. DDR only uses one edge.
You should always use the same size memory in each slot. Use matched pairs.
Your system will always adjust to the speed of the slowest memory installed. Each chip has an on board eeprom that identifies its characteristics. That?s why you can mix speeds. Your mother board adjusts the timing to accommodate the slowest speed memory stick. The other thing to watch when installing new memory is to watch the text displayed while booting to verify the new memory is recognized.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: RAM substitute question?

DDR and DDR2 are different technologies ? not compatible. DDR2 is almost twice as fast because data is transferred on the rising and falling clock edges. DDR only uses one edge.

DDR uses both edges as well.